Reviews with content warning for Death - Tom Lake

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

88 reviews

mgdsmile's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed Tom Lake. The novel is told in the voice of Lara, who in the present day is the mother of three young adult daughters who have, for various reasons, returned home to the family cherry farm in Northern Michigan in the spring of 2020. As the family is forced to isolate from other social obligations due to the pandemic, daughters Emily, Maisie, and Nell engage their curiosity in their mother's past as an actress, and husband Joe listens in.

The story is told through Lara's flashbacks to her growing up and young adult years. Over several days, she recounts to her children how she got into acting as a girl and eventually how she ended up cast at a summer production of Our Town, located at a theater company called Tom Lake in upstate Michigan. Most importantly, her daughters interrogate her about her relationship with Peter Duke, her co-star at Tom Lake, who has since become famous. In her late fifties now, Lara editorializes on her early life, both to her daughters and the reader.

The author reveals important details with intention along the way, as the daughter and the readers pick up clues as to how the story ends. Lara's voice is full of nostalgia, thankfulness, and simplicity as she narrates the closure she found over the years in her romance with Duke. We also observe Lara encountering her changing relationship with each of her maturing daughters, and Lara also reflects on parenting with wisdom and hindsight.

I was nervous that a novel grounded in spring 2020 would evoke elements of stress in me. Instead, Tom Lake captured the slowness and earnestness I want to remember of those days. Patchett has spun a simple yet captivating tale that had my attention for the duration of the book, and after, putting Michigan cherry farms on my travel list.

Many thanks to the Nashville Public Library's Lucky Day Collection for access to this popular novel.

Content Warnings

productioneer's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

hinkleh's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Content Warnings

rayreyes's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Solid book. Took me up until 50% through to get invested in the story. Really lovely and would recommend overall.

Content Warnings

dudette's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Content Warnings

alyssamg8's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

alisonvh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is about so many things I can’t put my finger on just one. It’s about young love and careers that don’t pan out and the choices we make, and learning about the people our parents were before they were parents. It’s so good!

Content Warnings